Devan Dubnyk has played four games for the Oilers this season. He has four losses and a 0.829 save percentage; he's probably directly cost Edmonton two wins and three points with his poor play.

What can the Oilers do about it?

Option 1: Stay The Course

The argument: Devan Dubnyk has been successful in Edmonton's net for three years now. Throwing that away over a lousy four-game stretch would be crazy. Goalies have bad runs sometimes. It's hard, but the best bet is to just ride this out rather than wasting assets bringing in a guy who isn't likely to be any better than Dubnyk is long-term.

Option 2: Jason LaBarbera

The argument: Sure, Jason LaBarbera didn't look very good in his first game for Edmonton. But he's been a darn good backup for five years now. Putting him in net gives Dubnyk a break, gives LaBarbera a chance to show whether he can handle the job, and costs nothing in terms of assets. The Oilers' play seems to have improved quite a bit; if LaBarbera can be average (and history suggests he can) that should be good enough.

Option 3: Ilya Bryzgalov

The argument: Sure, he didn't work out in Philadelphia, but this is a guy who was a Vezina candidate not that long ago. Signing in the ECHL shows he wants a North American job, and he should have plenty of motivation to prove he can still handle NHL minutes. If he can be anywhere near where he was a few years back, the Oilers will be smiling.

Option 4: The Big Trade

The argument: Edmonton's goaltending sin't good enough. Devan Dubnyk lets in soft goals and can't handle pressure; LaBarbera is a career backup. The team needs wins now, which means bringing in a new starter. Call him James Reimer, or Viktor Fasth or Ryan Miller, or whoever. The cost will be dear - nobody is giving these guys away and Edmonton's in a terrible position - but this team needs wins now and that means making a trade right now.

My Take

The decision was made in the summer. Maybe it was the wrong decision, but a) four games isn't enough evidence to overturn it and b) the cost of trying to overturn it is going to be very, very high. I'd be tempted to go with Jason LaBarbera against Washington, to give Dubnyk a game off and see what the backup can do; if LaBarbera plays well he stays in until he doesn't and if he plays poorly Dubnyk gets another shot. The history of both these players says they're a good enough tandem to provide NHL-average goaltending; clearly the Oilers felt at least that was possible when they made the choice this summer and there hasn't been enough evidence to overturn that decision, yet.

That's a hard decision to make; given the pressures on the team this season it's extremely difficult to see the goaltending almost single-handedly losing games. But the alternatives are either unlikely to be a good fit (Bryzgalov) or likely to be cost-prohibitive if there's any other way out.

But it wouldn't hurt to get a feel for the goaltending market, either.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including the Edmonton Journal, Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

I say try Bryz, he's obviously motivated (it definitely isn't for the money). Honestly can't be worse than Dub. Plus you can probably send down labarbra without any team putting in a claim on the fringe nhler

I would definitely test the market and see who/what goalie would be available, I wouldn't make a stupid trade but if there is a fair one that makes sense for both clubs I'm all for it and honestly If anyone is panicking it is clearly the bodywork of Devan Dubnyk. Sure the team as a whole has some work to do in their own end but when your team scores you 4+ goals there is no reason why we are losing. The Oilers faithful are tired of seeing constant losing and when your starter has 4 starts and is letting in this many goals it's getting hard to be optimistic.

Sure it's only 5 games in but how long is everyone willing to say this, I hope we don't get to game 15 and say well it's only 15 games and our starter is still shaky.

another loss and bad goaltending...but i'm tired of the oilers never having a killer instinct or the skill to finish off an opponent. does this team ever score empty netters? a lot less often than getting beat by backups.if arco scores on an empty netter or someone fires a puck 200 feet into the goal without worrying about the faceoff (why if dubbie doesn't). these are the things that keep happening or NOT happening. it blows but i'm not ready to trade gold 4 garbage. let's give an andy moog a chance and see what happens.time to get lucky

another loss and bad goaltending...but i'm tired of the oilers never having a killer instinct or the skill to finish off an opponent. does this team ever score empty netters? a lot less often than getting beat by backups.if arco scores on an empty netter or someone fires a puck 200 feet into the goal without worrying about the faceoff (why if dubbie doesn't). these are the things that keep happening or NOT happening. it blows but i'm not ready to trade gold 4 garbage. let's give an andy moog a chance and see what happens.time to get lucky

Didn't you recently reassure us that Dubnyk is an average NHL goaltender who was good enough to carry the Oilers into the playoffs.

Do you still think so?

If so, why did you write this post?

Mea Culpa.

If only I'd answered that question within the post.

Wait, what's this I read?

The history of both these players says they're a good enough tandem to provide NHL-average goaltending; clearly the Oilers felt at least that was possible when they made the choice this summer and there hasn't been enough evidence to overturn that decision, yet.

Huh.

As for your other question: it doesn't take much listening to know that my view - the same view I expressed in my last post on the subject - isn't shared by many fans. I wrote this post to try and get a feel for which direction fans want to see the team go.

It's certainly possible my evaluation of Dubnyk is wrong; time will tell on that. But this post is entirely consistent with my previously stated views.

The history of both these players says they're a good enough tandem to provide NHL-average goaltending; clearly the Oilers felt at least that was possible when they made the choice this summer and there hasn't been enough evidence to overturn that decision, yet.

Huh.

As for your other question: it doesn't take much listening to know that my view - the same view I expressed in my last post on the subject - isn't shared by many fans. I wrote this post to try and get a feel for which direction fans want to see the team go.

It's certainly possible my evaluation of Dubnyk is wrong; time will tell on that. But this post is entirely consistent with my previously stated views.

Also: condolences on the retirement of Kyle Wellwood.

When both your major premise and your minor premise are wrong, your conclusions doesn't have a hope in hell of being correct.

I personally would give dub another shot. If that doesnt work. Send labarbra down (assuming he doesnt get claimed) give bachman a few starts abd a chance to prove himself again. If its horrendous sign bryz to a 1 year contract worth 1 mill to compete with dub. Send bachman back down. Run with those 2. If neither get it done. Then its big trade time.

I personally wish we picked up khudobin. Whats he make? 1 mill? but No mac t was too busy looking for face punchers. When gange is back if he doesnt play wing. I could see 4 goo lines. A third and forth line consisting or gordon arcobello yak smyth joenssu and gazdic.

With so little capspace left and Miller being a Tim Thomas look a like, QSB had mentioned Raanta on another thread...Ill take his word for it and say we go for him...Next years 1st + roster/prospect..we need goaltending now, make it happen MacT!!!!

Dubnyk has NOT "been successful in Edmonton's net for three years now. "

Several fans and experts have disagreed with the "look at his save %age" argument and now it seems the soft goal chickens have come home to roost.

For MacT betting on dubnyk was the safest - least disruptive - least bold path. Sure, he tried to land a better option, but he hardly pulled out all the stops. He didn't trade gagner; he didn't buy out hemsky; he didn't take a bit of a flyer on Bryz or Thomas. He managed - as did a lot of others - to convince himself that dubnyk was enough.

Four games in that looks to be a bad bet gone completely bad.

Dubnyk could pull out of this tailspin yet but at the very least MacT needs to be firming up options. It would be inexcusable if he left it until the team is five or more points out of the playoffs on November 1. (Right now they are three points out after playing just five games)

Presumably labarbera is in against the capitals who are playing as bad or worse than the oil. They need a REAL regulation win NOW

Dubnyk will NOT be an 0.829 goaltender for the remainder of the year. The Oilers have lost to one divisional opponent. With average goaltending they would have curb stomped the Leafs. Not time to panic yet.

The jury that was out on Dubnyk has returned. He is not the goalie we need. The panic button is pushed. The coach looked disgusted at the soft goals that went in. The GM looked the same and I think most of the fans are concerned about the goaltending or lack thereof. I know something drastic needs to happen, but there is no way I want to trade one of our valuable players for a legit goalie, and there is no way I want the Oil to be picking early in the draft again. Hopefully DD can find his confidence again and soon.

Just a little more patience guys. We've been through 7 years of suck, we can take a few games of bad goaltending. I say this with absolute confidence- Dubnyk is still an NHL goaltender. Four games doesn't erase three years of solid play.

I'm telling you, this team is doing a lot of things right. Four out of five games we've been as good or better than the opposition. We're getting more shots, dominating in faceoffs, not getting outhit, and all the offseason adds are fitting in well. This team WILL start producing wins. If you want to give up on them this early, suit yourself and go party with DSF.

Dubnyk has NOT "been successful in Edmonton's net for three years now. "

Several fans and experts have disagreed with the "look at his save %age" argument and now it seems the soft goal chickens have come home to roost.

For MacT betting on dubnyk was the safest - least disruptive - least bold path. Sure, he tried to land a better option, but he hardly pulled out all the stops. He didn't trade gagner; he didn't buy out hemsky; he didn't take a bit of a flyer on Bryz or Thomas. He managed - as did a lot of others - to convince himself that dubnyk was enough.

Four games in that looks to be a bad bet gone completely bad.

Dubnyk could pull out of this tailspin yet but at the very least MacT needs to be firming up options. It would be inexcusable if he left it until the team is five or more points out of the playoffs on November 1. (Right now they are three points out after playing just five games)

Presumably labarbera is in against the capitals who are playing as bad or worse than the oil. They need a REAL regulation win NOW

So far it's looked like a good thing he didn't buy out Hemsky, don't you think?

Ah, yes - short sample plus/minus, the single best indicator of player ability ever created by anybody.

I look forward to Cory Sarich (plus-8, tied for best among all NHL blueliners) getting his well-deserved Norris Trophy nomination this fall.

I'll also be happy when the lousiest defenders in the NHL - guys like Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh, Shea Weber (and of course Jake Muzzin, condolences on that I know he's a favourite) wash out of the league, what with them clearly being unable to handle NHL opposition.

Naturally, I also hope the Oilers trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (minus-7, ouch) while they can and Vancouver probably ought to dump Ryan Kesler (minus-5) too.

We cant afford to risk our first. The way this is going that clould be a nathan makinnon

Really, that type of logic is what causes infabuilds. Eventually you must make the move that gets you over the hump, now is that time!!!!! Get the goalie we need and the pick wont be top 10 let alone top 5.

Time to panic is right.
Look at the Blue Jays this year, they didn't panic after losing games early in the season. I see similar problems Oilers has just as the Jays did.
So far goal tending is bad and defense also bad these past 5 games. The offense is scoring but not more than what they got scored against.
25 goals allowed in 5 games is unacceptable, what happened to team conditioning Eakins brought in to the team? They allowed late goals and looked tired and out of sync against the Devils.
Later in the season when goal tending is good but the offense is no where.
Goal tending, defense and offense has to be firing all cylinders. Not one or two each game but all three to win games.
Look at the Avs (I can't stand that guy Roy), they are winning 5 games to start the season and they were dead last last year.
Dubnyk didn't look sharp, mentally prepared and be alert each time other team shoot at him. He let in easy goals and stayed too deep in net, also go down too early.
It's early in the season and the points are slipping away, late in the season these points will bite them in the ass.
Time to panic and start to play better as a team. Please Oilers, play better.
From a long time fan, moved from Edmonton to Toronto 20 years ago. I m still an Oiler fan all these years.
Please for the love of god, play better for all your fans around the world!
God bless!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dubnyk was not invited to olympic training canp. He was invited to last years tourney. And played pretty horrendously for canada i might add. Hence not getting another chance. Smith outplayed him by a wide margin.

Dubnyk just seems to lack any.. Athletisism .. He seems rly uptight. Him and lebarbra or whatever. Both play deep in their net. And look like they havent done the splits in years. If oilers stick with it. I see no way they will slump out of this hole.

And in response , no i dont rly think we will do that awful this season, we wont get first overall. And if we used it to get ourselves a likely stud the chances of that pick being less valuable would increase. Im just frutrated with what i have seen thus far.

On a side note, we are probably one of the few teams who assumes no trade can be made without being ripped off. Probably years of poor management at work.

I would love to see the oilers win, but a part of me wants them to lose miserably so maybe, just maybe, Lowe & co. are given the boot. Call it blood lust.

Dont need to win but break even on a trade, as for Klowe+co. after what he's done and to still draw a paycheck, there is nothing he can do to cost him his place in the Oilers. That is until RX2 opens, at which time the Oil better be serious winners or else...In other words we have 2-3 years of this crap left.

Ah, yes - short sample plus/minus, the single best indicator of player ability ever created by anybody.

I look forward to Cory Sarich (plus-8, tied for best among all NHL blueliners) getting his well-deserved Norris Trophy nomination this fall.

I'll also be happy when the lousiest defenders in the NHL - guys like Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh, Shea Weber (and of course Jake Muzzin, condolences on that I know he's a favourite) wash out of the league, what with them clearly being unable to handle NHL opposition.

Naturally, I also hope the Oilers trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (minus-7, ouch) while they can and Vancouver probably ought to dump Ryan Kesler (minus-5) too.

You are talking out of both sides of your mouth logically. You can't cite hemskys performance in five games and than rebut DSF by saying that his data - the same five games you are working with - is too small a sample size.

Hemsky is off to a good start. But hemsky could lead the league and that won't offset the disaster that oiler goaltending has been thusfar.

Just as in baseball it's all about starting pitching (today's two games are as firm a proof of that as you will ever find) and in football the qback is key in hockey goaltending is paramount. Throwing a couple of surplus forwards - hemsky and gagner overboard to get that high quality proven goalie would have been worth it.

And because that wasn't done, the only way to get one if dubnyk doesn't recover at least to something approaching average competency in the next ten days or so is to trade a truly capital asset. And if the team is forced into that spot in the days or so it is 100% MacT's fault.